However, Education Next just published an article by the authors of that study where they talk about it and other research they’ve done.

And it’s that other research that caught my attention.

They borrowed the strategy that utility companies use which compare your usage to that of neighbors, and did something similar in letters sent to parents of children giving attendance reports. When they sent those reports by mail, they were very effective and parents either showed them to others or posted them on the refrigerator. However, cellphone messages were not effective.